No Zone U

[KopiKat]

Seriously, I've been watching Kentucky basketball since the early 70s. Not trying to claim that I "follow" college basketball much other than UK. But when I see zone defenses I see the other team. When I see a team struggle against zone defense I see our team not theirs. When I see a team saving energy playing zone I see their team not ours. Maybe there is another major program in the country with a chronic reputation for rarely playing zone defense but I seriously doubt it. Not sure why.

This squad doesn't have the bodies to keep up with bigs with the ability to drive the paint. That's just fact. And seeing Tyler getting caught undersized on switches (although remarkably he does the best job he can), is getting tiresome. Watching Marcus Lee on the perimeter allowing himself to get shot over for an easy 3 pointer is even more tiresome. What happened to us last night is the standard recipe for beating our man defense.

And then there are the fouls. Apparently Coach Cal must think these are going to magically go away or that we will not get too many road losses to hurt our post season (but we will). Yet, a semi-frequent zone defense could keep that from happening.

 

[GLR5555]

I'm convinced a zone defense is against his religion. He would have to go to confession the next day and he don't have the time for that.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

cal's zone offense looks better than what uk does against man most of the time

if you advocate saving energy on defense, he's probably not the coach for you

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

You do what it takes to win the game. If it's not what the NBA does, or if it shows a sign of weakness, then it be damned.

 

[3rex]

cal's zone offense looks better than what uk does against man most of the time

if you advocate saving energy on defense, he's probably not the coach for you

What does playing a zone defense have to do with "saving energy?"

 

[Kybluedude]

Agree it's just like a pitcher with one pitch. Got to mix in a curve or change. Sometimes just the fastball doesn't work that night

 

[KopiKat]

What does playing a zone defense have to do with "saving energy?"

Good lord, if you want to admit that you've never played organized basketball in your life just do so. Zone requires muss less overall defensive (physical) movement in the 1/2 court. Anybody who has ever played the game of basketball knows this. Energy saved on the defensive end = more energy available on the offensive end. That IS a general strategy employed by many who coach this game. Do you even pay attention when you watch basketball?

 

[3rex]

"Saving energy" would rank about the 135th reason someone goes to zone. Only little kids who haven't yet been taught think that's a reason to play zone.

 

[Big_Blue_Skidoo]

I'm hoping that this years tweak will be to switch to playing some zone. If not, I'm afraid there will be more nights like last night. We just don't have the shot blockers this year to clean up the mistakes made in man to man. And you will always have that with man to man, but last year the big guys inside covered those up. Cal is gonna have to swallow his pride and play some zone or it could get worse. Teams are figuring out how to attack our defense and it's working.

 

[kats23]

Zone defense. One of those things people throw out like chipping a TE to help your OL. It's just one of those things fans say to look smart and say "look at me , I know a lot about sports and that's why I can question the coach." I don't know the reason Cal doesn't play zone. I speculate bc his teams are so young and he's trying to get them up to speed so much faster than almost everyone else, he doesn't have time to teach zone. Times I have seen him throw it out in a limited sense, UK looks very confused and easy baskets come a calling. It's not something you can teach overnight and be effective. It has to be something that is thrown in on day 1. Sure, it's easy to say teach it all year but he doesn't and he must have a reason for that. Despite some thoughts on here, Cal isn't an idiot.

 

[Icecoldbrewdoggy]

Seriously, I've been watching Kentucky basketball since the early 70s. Not trying to claim that I "follow" college basketball much other than UK. But when I see zone defenses I see the other team. When I see a team struggle against zone defense I see our team not theirs. When I see a team saving energy playing zone I see their team not ours. Maybe there is another major program in the country with a chronic reputation for rarely playing zone defense but I seriously doubt it. Not sure why.

This squad doesn't have the bodies to keep up with bigs with the ability to drive the paint. That's just fact. And seeing Tyler getting caught undersized on switches (although remarkably he does the best job he can), is getting tiresome. Watching Marcus Lee on the perimeter allowing himself to get shot over for an easy 3 pointer is even more tiresome. What happened to us last night is the standard recipe for beating our man defense.

And then there are the fouls. Apparently Coach Cal must think these are going to magically go away or that we will not get too many road losses to hurt our post season (but we will). Yet, a semi-frequent zone defense could keep that from happening.

I hope he doesn't play a single bit of zone until the NCAA 2nd round, and then pulls it out.

 

[CatPhight]

The single biggest reason we struggle so badly against the zone is we never really devote much practice against it.

We go at it hard man-man at Craft...then get zoned in a game.

We also have some youngsters and bigs who are poor defenders against speed/drives.

 

[TTTblue24]

I understand being a primarily man to man defense team, but on occasion a zone or half court trap just to throw the other team a curve couldn't hurt that much. It's not like we are locking anyone down on D anyways, idk just seems that it couldn't hurt that much. But, we just can't keep losing to the auburns, tenn, & osu the way we have & keep doing the same thing over & over....

 

[The_Answer1313]

Most years we have shot blockers...........Cal wants teams to drive on us. It played into our hands.

That's why we don't zone.

Should he try this year? I don't know. I don't think so. I mean we are holding teams to 45.2% from the field. Our issues on defense is fouling and rebounding now. Zone might keep guys outta foul trouble but it sure won't help our rebounding

 

[3rex]

Seriously, I've been watching Kentucky basketball since the early 70s. Not trying to claim that I "follow" college basketball much other than UK. But when I see zone defenses I see the other team. When I see a team struggle against zone defense I see our team not theirs. When I see a team saving energy playing zone I see their team not ours.

If you see another team "saving energy playing a zone" then they aren't doing it right, and probably not very well.
A zone isn't played to "save energy."

 

[jedwar]

 

[CatPhight]

I understand being a primarily man to man defense team, but on occasion a zone or half court trap just to throw the other team a curve couldn't hurt that much. It's not like we are locking anyone down on D anyways, idk just seems that it couldn't hurt that much. But, we just can't keep losing to the auburns, tenn, & osu the way we have & keep doing the same thing over & over....

Especially after a timeout to keep the other team off balance.

Having a zone in your arsenal also gives the other team something else to prepare for.